Roundup: UN marks 20th anniversary of protecting children in armed conflicts

The United Nations on Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of protecting children in armed conflicts with top UN officials applauding two decades of world efforts to save children from the scourge of war.

Feb. 8 marks the 20th Anniversary of the children and armed conflict mandate" as the UN General Assembly resolution 51/77 was adopted in 1997 on promotion and protection of the rights of children.

At a meeting held at UN Headquarters in New York, Maria Luiza Viotti, UN chef de cabinet, delivered a message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, saying that this mandate has helped make a tangible difference to the lives of boys and girls in many countries.

Thanks to the efforts of governments, the UN and civil society partners, more than 115,000 children have been released from the ranks of State forces and armed groups, Guterres noted.

"However, the persistence and multiplication of conflicts continues to place children at grave risk, and the only way we can truly protect children is by preventing conflict," the secretary-general said.

"We also need to urgently prioritize support to children who have been affected by armed conflict, and education, particularly in emergency settings, must be a key element of our response," he said.

For his part, the president of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson, called the resolution "a landmark development in our global efforts to improve the protection of children in conflict situations."

"Among the incomprehensible horrors that take place in the chaos of war zones, unconscionable crimes, violations, exploitation and abuse are perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of our societies -- namely our children," Thomson said.

The General Assembly president called for a concerted effort to protect children in armed conflict as part of the international community's commitments to peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

Also speaking at the meeting was Leila Zerrougui, the UN special representative for children and armed conflict. As an outcome of the historic resolution, the General Assembly requested the secretary-general to name a special representative for children and armed conflict.

In addition to Zerrougui, the Wednesday event recognized past mandate-holders -- Graca Machel, Olara Otunnu and Radhika Coomaraswamy.

It was Machel's landmark report back in 1996 that led to the creation of the mandate and the appointment of a special representative.

She urged member states to consider children as "zones of peace," saying that by focusing on them, "politicians, governments, the military and non-State entities will begin to recognize how much they destroy through armed conflict, and therefore, how little they gain."

The best way to protect children from armed conflict is to prevent armed conflict in the first place, Machel wrote in the report. That idea was echoed in the message of Guterres, who identified good quality education and productive, decent work for young people as prerequisites for both peace and development.

When prevention fails, however, the UN chief called on the Special Representative's Office to continue monitoring and reporting violations to promote informed and timely action.

Over the past years, the Office of the Special Representative has worked with other UN agencies, notably the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), to protect children in conflict areas.

Among the joint projects is "the Children, Not Soldiers" campaign, which aims to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by government forces. Since 2000, the work of the Office and partners has led to the release of more than 115,000 child soldiers.

"Children don't belong on the battlefield, they belong in school where they can build a future," said UNICEF Executive Director Tony Lake, who also took part in the event.

UN Assistant-Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca, who represented the UN Department of Political Affairs which is a key partner of Zerrougui's Office, reiterated the importance of integration to protect children.

Jenca also highlighted the utility of a checklist for drafting children and armed conflict provisions developed with UN and partners, as a useful tool for mediators.

Grave violations against children include recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape and sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access in armed conflicts. Enditem